LSA Powered 69 Camaro - "Lou's Change"

[oestek]

Here's the first video on the build of "Lou's Change" Camaro. Lou and Dan are great guys to work with, they are both very sharp and creative, and we're all really looking forward to this build. Here is your chance to meet them!

[BlackPearl]

On the A/C: I too notched the frame for the stock location using a BRP weld in plate and Street & Performance then made me a bracket and supplied the correct belt. I wanted to run the front drive assemble as done stock to prevent any belt slippage on the SS pully.

Oil Pan: I also obtained this from BRP and I believe it was an off the shelf Hummer H2 pan but that was with using the BRP engine mounts so yours may be different? I was going to make some custom brackets to use the factory oil to cooler but it came up missing??

Trans/Clutch/Bell Housing: What set-up are you planning to use?

Bob

[C6Z06]

Hi Bob. Thanks for sharing details of your build to help us out. Kevin's crew is going to notch the Detroit Speed Frame to clear the A/C compressor which is mounted using CTS-V OEM mounts. Some people have said the A/C hose connections can be a very tight fit too so we'll be checking that.

For the oil pan, we're still thinking we may get one with more ground clearance.

I noticed in the pictures below that the oil pan on the 383 we removed was hanging down at least as far on the motor we just removed. The fact is I never worried about it and never had any problems with ground clearance whatsoever.






Kevin has worked with Modern Driveline to spec a complete custom trans kit for our build. He can add more of the details but I know it includes the T56 Magnum transmission, a QuickTime scatter shield, dual disc clutch, flywheel and hydrualics. The V8TV crew will also fab up a custom cross member.

[oestek]

I've been thinking about the cooling systems on the car, and while the Linegnfelter ZL1 has done some pretty amazing things on a stock cooling system and charge cooler heat exchanger, I think our application will benefit from some increased capacity and additional coolers.

Their Z has run fast in the quarter, but that gives you time to cool the car between runs. If you saw heard any of the stories about the 200+ mph runs, you know that the limiting factor was the amount of heat the supercharger created during long runs.

We have seen it time and again in dyno tuning sessions with these types of systems, they really can pack in the heat.

Now I realize we're probably not going to be making 200 mph passes on the car, but we'd like to do everything we can to minimize heat soak when the car is on a road course.

I'm also considering oil temperature and steering fluid temps. Having recently spoken to a variety of "smarties", it's obvious we need to prevent these temps from rising and causing harm on track days. I think we can add an oil temp sensor to the Dakota dash.

I've long preferred an integrated cooling system - like OE auto trans coolers integrated in the radiator. I've heard that Stielow and Tucker are going to the approach of oil and steering coolers integrated in the radiator rather than stand-alone coolers. The benefits are not only for packaging and airflow and fan assist, but also the the engine coolant can help warm & cool the other circuits, preventing rapid heat spikes and potential bad stuff.

So now I'm thinking of a cooling module with engine coolant, engine oil, & power steering circuits, as well as an upsized inter cooler heat exchanger. Add to that a high quality a/c coil and we should be golden. I've heard DSE is using C&R for these kinds of radiators, I'm looking into them now.

[C6Z06]

Thanks Kevin. I appreciate it when you and the V8TV crew think about the details and possibilities as if you were building your own car. It's just another reason I know I'm in the right hands.

To all you Fathers out there, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Father and Son projects like "Lou's Change" and extra special today.

[MuscleRodz]

I would look into Autorad radiators and there setup. They built us a monster intercooler that bolts to there core supoort and still clears the stock hood catch for our TVS setup. It is huge compared to the one that came with the kit. I will find a pic and post it.

[BlackPearl]

Sounds like a lot of good info being offered.

Clutch: I used the same exact parts you're considering to use and had to go with a 1" spacer from Mcleod to get the Mcleod release bearing in the proper released position. Also, I wasn't able to install as many bolts as I would have liked, in the QuickTime unit. Maybe by now they have another option for this combination? FYI

Cooling: I have not yet had a problem with my stock set-up using the D3 lid spacer but I have not been tracking it yet either, just autocross. I don't think I'm as advanced as some folks on here and that cooling system discussed sounds awesome. I suggest also speaking with Greg over at D3 they race and maintain several other track cars.

Bob

[oestek]

Thanks for the tips, Bob. We'll investigate the spacer and the bellhousing bolts shortly.

[oestek]

I would look into Autorad radiators and there setup. They built us a monster intercooler that bolts to there core supoort and still clears the stock hood catch for our TVS setup. It is huge compared to the one that came with the kit. I will find a pic and post it.

Yes, I'd like to see it. Thanks!

[BlackPearl]

I will take some pics when I get my car back. I am having tubs installed and the roll bar re-done so it might take awhile. If you need it sooner let me know and I will ask D3 to take some pics or I might do that anyway.

Bob

[C6Z06]

Kevin and his crew are deep into the details to make sure all our subsystems (cooling, ecu, wiring harness, etc.) will play nicely together when assembled. We're also waiting for ordered parts to come in to move the mock up phase forward.

Amidst all of that, last weekend he took me for a ride in V8TV's latest major build, a 1968 Camaro named Reloaded.

What a treat. This car is especially nice in terms of fit and finish. I was impressed with lots of little details like how solid the doors felt and sounded when you shut them as compared to other first gens like mine.

The suspension and ride was impressive to say the least. It has Detroit Speed's enhancements to the stock subframe and their QUADRALink set up in the rear.

Reloaded rides like a daily driver with virtually no rattles or squeeks and can literally throw a person out of the seat if they are not strapped in and paying attention. I was impressed with the way there was no perception of lean in the turns.

Seems like every time I hang out around Kevin I get to ride in another awesome car. Very fun.






There are tons of pics of the "Reloaded" build here:http://www.v8tvshow.com/images/stori...ries/Main.html

[C6Z06]

The crew at V8TV has started opening more boxes and figuring out the details for the mock up phase of Lou's Change.

Since this car will have design tributes to the new ZL1, we want to run the actual Camaro ZL1 supercharger top hat instead of the CTS V top hat that comes on the crate motor.

Besides that, the GM press releases claim the Camaro top hat was redesigned for increased performance via more interior volume and a new internal heat exchanger design.

The ZL1 top hat can now be ordered from the dealer. It comes with the heat exchanger inside and all the sensors are included. It bolts right on.




OK, This next picture is scary because I really, really want to run the stock SS hood. Not sure if this top hat is going to fit as is.
The engine may not have to tilt this much once the transmission and cross member are installed....

Hopefully the V8TV crew will be able to lower the engine if need be.



The intercooler lines exit the ZL1 Camaro top hat in the front vs. in the rear as they do in the CTS V top hat.




The fuel rail and the lower coolant line look like they will want to occupy the same space. It's odd that the GM press photos of the ZL1 engine show the lower line to have a 90 degree fitting in it but the top hat comes with a straight fitting in it...

I think I might have to go to the Chevy dealer to see what they actually do to avoid any interference on the ZL1 production units. My curiosity is getting the best of me.

[Laextreme]

Please post picks of the forgelines ASAP when they come in. I plan on picking up a set for my 67. Build looks great o far!!

[C6Z06]

I will definetly be posting pics of the Forgelines when they arrive. I can't wait to see them myself!!!

We ordered titanium center sections with brushed outer rims. Originally we ordered gloss clear over the brushed rims but they talked us out of the gloss in favor of a semigloss clear. They warned that glossy clear would distract from the brushed look.

[C6Z06]

To figure out the front supercharger intercooler line issue, I went to a nearby dealer who happens to have a beautiful black ZL1 in stock. (My guess is it is in stock because they have it priced $5k over sticker.)

They were nice enough to let me take a few quick pictures of the intercooler lines where they exit the front of the supercharger.

As I stated in my earlier post, we were a little concerned that the coolant line and the fuel rail would want to occupy the same space and we might need to get a different fuel rail but it looks like the fuel rail on the LSA crate motor and the ZL1 are the same piece.

The bottom ZL1 intercooler line just makes a zig zag to miss the fuel rail before it snakes out from the middle of the engine cover.

By the way, Chevy did a really nice job on the exhaust note of the ZL1. In my opinion, it definetely sounds better than my C6Z06.

I'm just posting these pictures here in case someone needs to figure this out later for their own build.

[oestek]

Nice shots, Lou. Thanks for grabbing those. Did they let you drive it?

[Bmf5150]

Nice car

[C6Z06]

Well these projects are a function of learning the details and then figuring out what they mean.

It looks like the Quick Time bellhousing we were planning to use will not allow the use of a double disc clutch.

Sure, there are single disc clutches that could probably handle the load but it doesn't make sense to lock ourselves out of a double disc option if we don't have to so we think we'll go with a factory bellhousing.

We may also need to modify the transmission tunnel in order to clear the T56 Magnum with the stock bell housing. Oh well, better to do that now than down the road.

[BlackPearl]

Sorry, I have not been active on here for awhile. Had to work on getting a job, which I did.

I am using the factory twin disc clutch with the Quick Time scatter sheild, what was the problem? Bob

[oestek]

Black Pearl: Unless you are using a different part number QT part than what we have, there is no way the QT bell housing will slip over the clutch and reach the back of the block. Are you using a QT scatter shield and a GM bellhousing?